Skin-stretching machine.



PATBNTED FEB. 2o, 1906. A. A. HELLWIG.

SKIN STRETCHING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 2, 1905.

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No. 813,293. PATBNTED FEB. 20, 1906.

l A. A. HELLWIG.

SKIN STRETGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1905.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1905.

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UNITED srArns nmmnr cierren.

ALBERT ALBERTUS HELLVIG, OF G LOVERSVILLE, N E'W YORK.

SKIN-STRETCHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed May 2.1905. Serial No. 258,491.

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ALBERTUS HELLWIG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Gloversville, in the county of Fulton and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skin-StretchingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in skin stretching andfinishing machines, and has particular reference to machines forstretching and finishing skins used in the manufacture of gloves and theobject is to produce a machine in which a mechanical arrangement may beprovided for stretching and smoothing skins and to obviate the slowtedious process of stretching the skins by hand, as is now the practice.

Heretofore it has been necessary in stretching a skin to smooth andstretch it over the abrasion-cylinder by rubbing the hands over the skinas it passes through and between the abrasion-cylinder andguide-rollers. This operation is exceedingly slow and tedious and inconsequence greatly adds to the expense of the skin preparatory tocutting it to the desired shapes. It is, therefore, afurther object ofmy invention to construct a machine to obviate these objections and alsoto provide an arrangement by which the pressure employed for stretchinga skin may be evenly distributed and the skin stretched and smoothed inan even manner throughout its entire surface.

The invention further consists in certain details of construction andnovelties of combination and arrangement of parts, as will be fully setforth in the following specification and pointed lout in the claims,reference being had to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same drawn onabout the line 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, the driveshaftbeing in section and the drive-pulley shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is asectional view drawn on about the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is asectional view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the machine holding andstretching a skin, the skin being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is adetail perspective view of the sliding table. Fig. 7 is a detailperspective view of the corrugated bar, and Fig. 8 is a dia.- grammaticview of the belts for stretching the skin laterally.

In constructing a machine in accordance with my invention I employ asuitable frame A, upon which is j ournaled a shaft B, carrying anabrasion-cylinder BQ which is of the ordinary construction of cylindersused in such work. The cylinder is operated by a pulley and belt B2.

Operating in connection with the abrasioncylinder is my improvedautomatic stretching and dressing devices, which comprise a slidingtable C, whose forward end is recessed, as shown at C, and in which isjournaled a pressure-roller C2, 'preferably made of rubber and having ametal core the ends of which provide journals which operate in andextend through the ends of the table, as shown at C3, the extreme endsextending through slotted rack bars or arms D2 of a stretching-frameproper, D. The upper ends of the rack-bars are connected by a cross-barD', and a pin D3 projects from each end of the frame through the slotsof the arms and form fulcrums by which the teeth d of the arms arethrown into engagement with pinions D, carried by a shaft D5, journaledin the frame, when the table is moved forwardly and the rubber roller C2is moved into close proximity to the abrasion-cylinder.

The table C is provided near its ends with depending arms C4, havingstud bolts or pins C, over which fit the slotted ends of cranklevers C,journaled upon the inner sides of the frame, and to the opposite ends ofthe levers are connected links C7, whose opposite ends are connected toa foot-treadle C8, as shown.

Arranged in the frame and directly in front of the abrasion-cylinder isa bar E, whose front face is corrugated, the said corrugations beingarranged upon an angle and in diverging directions from the center ofthe bar, and operating with this corrugated bar is an anglepressure-plate F, carried by the table and adjacent the roller C2, thehorizontal portion of the plate being positioned to slide over the bar Einto engagement with the cylinder B and the vertical portion beingpositioned to abut against the corrugated face of the bar when the tableis moved forwardly. This angle-plate may be made in sections and thehorizontal portion made adjustable to cause it to overlap the top of thebar E to a greater or less extent as the thickness and other conditionsof the skin may require.

Immediately below the angle-plate and in IOO IIO

l the forward movement of the table,

line with the vertical portion thereof is a pressure-plate G, whichextends entirely across the frame and has its ends connected to thefront edges of the arm C4 of the table. This plate is designed forpressing a skin against two oppositely moving smoothing and stretchingbelts H and H', arranged directly under the corrugated bar E and in linewith the front face of the bar, and these belts are mounted upon pulleysH3, journaled in brackets H5, fastened to the frame A, and also uponpulleys H4, fixed to the upper ends of two vertical shafts I, suitablyjournaled within the frame. The shaft for operating the belt H' carriesa bevel-gear J, which is meshed by a bevel-gear J', fixed upon the endof a shaft J2, journaled in the frame at right angles to the shafts I.The opposite end of the shaft J 2 carries a pinion J3, meshed by anidler K, which in turn is driven by a gear L, arranged upon the shaft D5and preferably fastened to or integral with the pinion D4, arranged uponthe same end of the shaft. The drive-pinion M meshes the gear L and iscarried by a driveshaft M', journaled in the frame and upon which isheld a belt-pulley M3.

To impart motion to the belt H, I provide the shafts I with intermeshingpinions I', and it is obvious that when the shaft I for operatin thebelt H' is set in motion movement wi l be imparted to the belt H, whichwill be driven in the opposite direction to the movement of the belt H',as shown by the arrows in Figs. 4 and 8 of the drawings.

In order to draw the table back to its initial position and to hold itthere until forcibly moved forward by the foot-treadle, I employ springsS, which are connected to the table and also to lugs projecting from theframe. Suitable gages T are also provided to limit and, as shown in thedrawings, these gages consist of set-screws working through lugs on theframe, so that their forward ends will be arranged to engage the frontedges of the table and limit the forward movement thereof. This featurehas been found necessary, as it prevents the several contacting faces ofthe machine being forced so tightly together that the skin would be tornor otherwise injured, and, furthermore, it avoids extreme care on thepart of the operator, and thus allows him to work much faster than if heshould be required to exercise extreme caution in operating the machine.The set-screws are of course capable of adjustment so that greater orless pressure may be obtained upon the skin as the conditions of theskin may necessitate.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The machine is set in motionwith the table at its farthest position from the abrasion-cylinder andwith the cross-bar of the stretching-frame lying thereon and thedepending rack-arms out of engagement with the pinions D4. A hide orskin is then placed over the cross-bar so that a greater portionthereof, or a little more than one-half of the length, will hang down inthe mac 'ne between the pressing-plate and the oppositely-moving belts,the operator in the meantime tightly holding the upper end of the skinagainst the cross-bar D. Then by pressing upon the foot-treadle thetable will be moved forwardly, through the medium of the links andcrank-levers, until the skin is thrown into contact with theabrasion-cylinder, where it is tightly pressed thereagainst by the hori-Zontal portion of the angle-plate and the rubber roller C2. During thisoperation the skin will also be bent over the corrugated face and upperedge of the bar E by the angleplate and also against theoppositely-moving belts by the pressing-plate. G, and when the parts arein this position the rack-arms of the stretching-frame will be inengagement with the pinions D4, and being continuously operated theframe will be forced upwardly, dragging or pulling the skin between theplate and belts, the angle-plate and corrugated bar, and also betweenthe edge of the angle-plate and abrasion-cylinder and the rubber rollerand abrasion-cylinder. The cylinder in the meantime operates upon theskin against the direction in which it is being drawn through themachine, and it will be readily understood that during this operationthe skin is first operated upon by the belts to stretch itlaterally, andthen by the angle-plate and corrugated bar and cylinder to remove allprojections or foreign particles of the skin,

and finally by the frame which stretches the skin as it draws it throughthe machine. By arranging the corrugations of the bar in oppositediverging directions from the center, foreign substances will besmoothly and evenly removed from the skin by a shearing cut. After thisoperation the skin is reversed andthe operation repeated upon theopposite end thereof in exactly the same manner as heretofore described,it being understood, of course, that when the skin is drawn entirelythrough the machine the operator releases the pressure upon'the treadle,and the table is drawn back away from the abrasion-cylinder by thesprings, when the rack-arm will be disengaged from the pinions and theframe allowed to drop to its initial position.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap, simple, andhighly-efficient machine for the purposes stated, and further commentsupon its merits are thought unnecessary. I may say, however, thatvarious slight changes and alterations may be made in the constructionof the machine without departing from the broad principles thereof, andI claim the privilege of making such slight alterations as may be foundnecessary. It may be stated, however, that in practice the entiremachine except the top immedi-l IOO 2. In a machine of the kinddescribed, the

combination with a cylinder, of oppositelymoving belts, a sliding table,a pressure-roller and a pressure-plate carried by the table and adaptedfor cooperation with the roller and belts respectively, and astretchingframe connected to and adapted to be thrown into operation bythe table, all substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of oppositely-moving stretching-belts, a stretchingframe, and means for operating the frame.

4. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinderand a pressure-roller, of a stretching-frame fordrawing a skin through the abrasion-cylinder and roller against therotation of the said cylinder, oppositely-moving belts, and apressure-plate for holding a skin against the belts.

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of a stretching-frame, means for operating the frame,a sliding table operatively connected to the frame for throwing the saidframe into engagement with the operating means.

6. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of a stretching-frame, oppositely-moving belts, asliding table carrying a pressure roller and plate, and operativelyconnected with the stretching-frame.

7. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasioncylinder, of a stretchingframe, means for operating the frame,of a sliding table connected with the frame and adapted for moving thelatter into engagement with the operating means, a pressure roller andplate carried by the table, oppositely-moving belts, means for operatingthe belts, and means for operating the table, substantially asspecified.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of a stretching-frame, a sliding table connected tothe frame, oppositely-moving belts, a corrugated bar arranged above thebelts, a pressure roller and plate carried by the sliding table foroperation with the abrasion-cylinder and belts respectively, and anangle-plate for operation with the corrugated bar.

9. In a machine of the kind described, the

combination with an abrasion-cylinder, of a stretching-frame, comprisingthe slotted-rackarms and a cross-bar, a sliding table having apressure-roller journaled therein, the shaft of said roller extendingthrough the slots in the rack-arms, gears for engagement with therack-arms, and by which the frame is operated when the table is movedtoward the abrasion-cylinder, and means for operating the table.

l0. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame,having an abrasion-cylinder mounted thereon, of a stretching-frame, saidframe comprising the slotted rackarms, and cross-bar connecting thearms, a sliding table connected to the stretching-frame, a shaft havingpinions for engagement with the rack-arms when the table is moved towardthe abrasion-cylinder, oppositely moving belts operating within theframe, a corrugated bar arranged within the frame, a pressure roller andplate carried by the table and adapted for operation with theabrasion-cylinder and belts respectively, an angle-plate carried by thetable for operation with the corrugated bar, an intermeshing gear andpinions for operating the belts, and a drive-pinion for operating thegear.

11. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, ofan abrasioncylinder journaled thereon, a sliding table operating uponthe frame, a pressure-roller journaled .in the forward end of the table,a stretching-frame movably positioned upon the frame and connected withthe sliding table, a corrugated bar arranged within the frame, adjacentthe abrasion-cylinder, oppositely-moving belts arranged within the frameand directly below the corrugated bar, an angle-plate and pressure-platecarried IOO by the table, a treadle for operating the table, and meansfor operating the stretching frame and belt respectively.

12. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, ofan abrasioncylinder journaled thereon, a sliding table operating uponthe frame, a pressure-roller journaled in the end of the table, theshaft of the roller projecting beyond the edge of the table, astretching-frame having slotted rack-arms through which the ends of theshaft of the pressure-roller project, a shaft journaled in the frame,and having pinions for engagement with the slotted rack-arms of thestretching-frame, shafts vertically journaled in the frame and havingpulleys at their upper ends, pulleys journaled to the sides of theframe, belts operating upon the pulleys, a short shaft ournaled in theframe and having a beveled pinion for engagement with a beveled pinioncarried by one of the vertically-journaled shafts, an intermeshing gearand pinions for imparting motion to the short shaft, intermeshingpinions carried by the vertical shafts, and an angle and pressure IIOplate carried by the sliding table, all substantially for the purposesset forth.

13. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of oppositely-moving stretching-belts,astretching-frame, means for operating the frame, and an operating-tableconnected to the said frame and adapted to move the frame into and outof engagement with the said operating means.

14. In a skin-stretching machine, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of oppositely-moving belts, a sliding table, meanscarried by the table for holdingl a skin into engagement with thecylinder, and belts, and also means for drawing the skin through themachine. I

15. In a skin-stretching machine, the combination with anabrasionecylinder, of oppositely-moving belts, a corrugated bar arrangedadjacent the cylinder, a sliding table carrying a pressure-roller andpressure-plates, which are adapted for pressing a skin into engagementwith the cylinder, belts, and bar, and means for drawing the skinthrough the machine.

16. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of oppositely-moving belts, a bar arranged adjacentthe cylinder, a sliding table carrying a pressure-roller, an adjustableplate, and stationary plates connected to the table, means for operatingthe table, and also means for operating the frame when the table ismoved forwardly.

17. In a machine of the-kind described, the combination with a frame, ofan abrasion-cylinder, oppositely-moving belts, a corrugated bar, asliding table carrying a pressure-roller and pressure plates, a movablestretcherframe, and means for operating the frame said frame beingconnected to the table and adapted to be thrown into engagement with thesaid operating means.

18. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, ofan abrasion-cyl inder journaled in the frame, stretchingbelts, a slidingtable, a stretcher-frame connected to the table, andcontinuously-operating means adapted for engagement by the frame whenthe table is moved forwardly and disengaged when the table is movedrearwardly, as specified.

19. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, ofan abrasionecylinder journaled therein, continuously-operatingstretching-belts, a sliding table, a continuously-operating shaftjournaled in the frame, and having pinious fastened thereto, and astretcher-frame held upon the frame of the machine and connected to thesaid table, said frame having rack-sections which are adapted forengagement with the pinions when the table is moved forwardly anddisengaged when the position of the table is reversed.

20. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with anabrasion-cylinder, of oppositely-moving belts, a corrugated bar, asliding table carrying a pressure-roller, a hori- Zontally-disposedadjustable pressure-plate connected to the table, vertically-disposedstationary plates connected to the table, and a stretcher-frameconnected to and adapted to be thrown into operative position by thetable.

ALBERT AIIBERTUS HEIIIIWIG.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM CARR, WILLIAM HELLWIG.

